A Meeting Place For Nostalgia And Music

Fantastic Foursome – Sinatra’s Epitaph

For this edition of our Special Feature known as Fantastic Foursome, we’re taking a look at a song that was written for Tony Bennett, but ended up becoming one of Frank Sinatra’s favorites. In fact, “The Best is Yet to Come” was the last song he performed in public and it was also engraved on his tombstone.

Written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, it was introduced by Tony Bennett and was later included on his 1962 album, I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It was soon being recorded by a number of big-name singers, including Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, and Nancy Wilson.

Sinatra took his turn in 1964 and it eventually became important enough to him that in 1995 he closed his public performing career with it. As for it appearing on his grave marker, I’m not sure if it was his wish or if it was a family decision at the time, but either way it indicates how special the song was to him.

Below you will find four versions of “The Best is Yet to Come” that you can try, and then — if you are so inclined — vote for your favorite. Below all that is an early video of the song performed by its composer, Cy Coleman.